'Queen - Greatest Hits (November 2, 1981) Remaster (2009)'!

'Queen / Greatest Hits (November 2, 1981) Remaster (2009)' Review!



Back in the middle of the Summer of 1981, the English Rockers, 'Queen', with their once-in-a-lifetime singer, Freddie Mercury, were at the top of their game (Pun intended!) when they met up in the studio with the Chameleon of Rock, David Bowie, for their first collaboration with someone outside of the band's tightly kept inner circle. Bowie, on the other hand, had just finished up a tour in support of his 1980 album, 'Scary Monsters (& Super Creeps)', and had begun doing the Broadway play, 'The Elephant Man', and was considering his next project, the infamous, 'Baal', by Bertolt Brecht, when he received the call to join the band in the studio for a jam. That jam went through many different lives, including once being called, 'People On The Street', before evolving into that great bass-driven song that we have come to love, 'Under Pressure'. So, it was decided to release this unique pairing as a single, and to create a collection of some of the best songs from both performers as companion pieces on an album. Eventually, that idea fell flat with Bowie, but 'Queen' were still keen, but would it be appropriate to release an album of their best songs with their latest single with David in their shared home country of England? Perhaps not, it was thought, but for other markets, maybe. And, thus began a very interesting process, one I have yet to see done by many other bands, if any since or before, and that was to release a different version of the new 'Greatest Hits' in every territory of the world, adding songs for each country as appropriate. So, hence, in a country like Japan, where the partly sung in Japanese tune, 'Teo Torriate (Let Us Cling Together)' was released as a single to mild success, the song was included on their version of the album. Countries like the U.S. got 'Under Pressure' & one of my all-time favourites from the guys, 'Keep Yourself Alive', and others like Germany, the excellent, 'Spread Your Wings'. So, all-in-all, their were perhaps more than 20 different versions of the album 'Greatest Hits' released between 1981 and 1984, the last being in Russia. However, when the first official compact discs were processed, it was decided to make all of the CDs around the world universal, meaning that we all had to have the same tracklisting that the Britons had on their original album, and no more 'Under Pressure', for example. So, finally, in 2009, the powers that be have decided to bring together all of the different songs from all of the different versions around the globe on 2 brilliantly remastered CDs. 45 songs at 320 KBps, bristling with energy at 24-bit processing! Truly the best of 'Queen' from 1973-1981! So, what are YOU waiting for? Grab your copy Today, and find out what countries like Bulgaria, Ecuador, Venezuela, Sweden & Australia had for songs on their versions of 'Greatest Hits' back in 1981, and relive the Magic with Freddie, Brian May. Roger Taylor & John Deacon! - Rick Wilson, former Rock Radio Journalist / Personality with Radio Canale Grandé.



CD1



01. Bohemian Rhapsody (A Night At The Opera) 1975 ***** The song that will forever recall headbanging in AMC Pacers! lol Party on, Wayne! Party on, Garth!

02. Another One Bites The Dust (The Game) 1980 ***** I still think 'Dragon Attack' is a better song, but this one has that famous John Deacon bass-line!

03. Killer Queen (Sheer Heart Attack) 1974 ***** I'm not going there, but this one really sticks in your head, no doubt!

04. Fat-Bottomed Girls: single version (Jazz) 1978 ***** Something like that, yes!

05. Bicycle Race (Jazz) 1978 ***** Nice video! lol Tour de France? No way!

06. You're My Best Friend (A Night At The Opera) 1975 ***** Nice grooves from John Deacon, yet again!

07. Don't Stop Me Now (Jazz) 1978 ***** I hear Brian May doesn't like this one, but I have always admired its fast-paced action sans guitar solo!

08. Save Me (The Game) 1980 *****

09. Crazy Little Thing Called Love (The Game) 1980 ***** Freddie's take on Elvis!

10. Somebody To Love (A Day At The Races) 1976 ***** I have to admit I kind of hoped George Michael could have gotten his head out of his arse, and joined 'Queen' back in 1992, after his great version of this penultimate Freddie Mercury Gospel Opus!

11. Now I'm Here (Sheer Heart Attack) 1974 ***** Great live song! How did he do that?!

12. Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy (A Day At The Races) 1976 ***** Reminds me of Macca doing songs like 'You Gave Me The Answer'!

13. Play The Game (The Game) 1980 ***** For Lovers!

14. Flash: single version (Flash Gordon: soundtrack) 1980 *****

15. Seven Seas Of Rhye (Queen II) 1974 ***** I like how Freddie uses the melody of this one on 'Friends Will Be Friends'.

16. We Will Rock You (News Of The World) 1977 ***** I can't imagine any sporting event in the West without one of these 2 numbers!

17. We Are The Champions (News Of The World) 1977 ***** Who will be the new NFL Champions in 2009, Pittsburgh or Arizona?

18. Tie Your Mother Down: single version (A Day At The Races) 1976 ***** Superb Rocker! I love the cover version sung by Lemmy of 'Motörhead', as well!

19. Death On Two Legs (Dedicated To...) (A Night At The Opera) 1975 ***** Nice riff! Shark! lol

20. Spread Your Wings (News Of The World) 1977 ***** I dedicated this one to Sammy Hagar when he got canned by 'Van Halen'! lol

21. I'm In Love With My Car: single version (A Night At The Opera) 1975 ***** Roger Taylor professing more love for his car than for his wife!

22. Love Of My Life: live '79 (Live Killers) 1979 ***** The ultimate duet, guitar and voice!

23. Keep Yourself Alive (Queen) 1973 ***** My all-time favourite 'Queen' song! Brian May makes that Red Special cook!

24. God Save The Queen (A Night At The Opera) 1975 *** The English hymn to their Queen that most Americans call, 'America'. lol



CD2



01. Under Pressure (w/ David Bowie) (Greatest Hits, Hot Space) October 26, 1981 ***** Great tune that will withstand time!

02. Mustapha (Jazz) 1978 ***** On the Turkish version of 'Greatest Hits'!

03. '39 (A Night At The Opera) 1975 ***** Brian May buskering away!

04. Dead On Time (Jazz) 1978 ***** Quick Rocker a la 'Stone Cold Crazy', and lyrically a bit of prophecy, perhaps.

05. Flash's Theme (Flash Gordon: soundtrack) 1980 ***** This album version was on the Russian version of 'Greatest Hits'!

06. White Queen (As It Began) (Queen II) 1974 ***** I'm quite thankful for this excellent addition! Check out the 'Live At The Rainbow, '74' DVD, if YOU haven't already!

07. Sweet Lady (A Night At The Opera) 1975 ****

08. Jealousy (Jazz) 1978 ***** Great tune that reminds a bit on 'Sympathy' by 'Rare Bird'.

09. Brighton Rock (Sheer Heart Attack) 1974 ***** Freddie singing in duet with himself!

10. Let Me Entertain You (Jazz) 1978 ***** Robbie Williams nicked this one, for sure!

11. Seaside Rendezvous (A Night At The Opera) 1975 **** A nice older Rocker like 'Liar' or 'Orge Battle' would have done nicely instead!

12. Rock It (Prime Jive) (The Game) 1980 **** Is Roger Taylor doing his best Robert Plant impersonation, or did Robert help out?

13. In Only Seven Days (Jazz) 1978 **** Yes, seven days without YOU makes one weak! lol

14. Stone Cold Crazy (Sheer Heart Attack) 1974 ***** For 'Metallica' a Grammy, but for Freddie maybe a way of life!

15. Love Of My Life: studio version (A Night At The Opera) 1975 ***** Harps, Classical Guitar, and quite a unique take on this one!

16. Sheer Heart Attack: single version (News Of The World) 1977 ***** Freddie sings this unique single version!

17. You Take My Breath Away (A Day At The Races) 1976 **** I would have preferred a song like 'Need Your Loving Tonight'.

18. My Melancholy Blues (News Of The World) 1977 ***** I used to think that if I could do this one live that I could get the gig as singer for 'Queen'! I'm still practicing! lol

19. We Will Rock You: live playout version '79 (Live Killers) 1979 ***** The great fast version that even 'Guns 'n' Roses' once played live!

20. We Are The Champions: live '79 (Live Killers) 1979 *****

21. Teo Torriate (Let Us Cling Together) (A Day At The Races) 1976 ***** Freddie sings Japanese!

22. Long Away (A Night At The Opera) 1975 ***** Brian May sung!